Combined ironing-board and ladder.



1 Patented Dec. l9, I899. r L. NELSON. I

COMBINED IRDNING BOARD AND LADDER. (Application filed Nov. 8, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l,

(No Model.)

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Patentd Dec. I9, 1899.

L. NELSON.

COMBINED IRONING BOARD AND LADDER.

(Application filed Nov. 8, 1898.)

(No Model.)

2 SheetsSheet 2 5 :4 as 29 5o 3 20252 5 Mlsoif mm NITED STATES ATENT ric,

LOUIS NELSON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONETHIRD TO JOHN H. PATTERSON, OF SAME PLACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 639,603, dated December 19, 1899.

Application filed November 8, 1898. Serial No. 695,855. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS NELSON, a subject of the King of Denmark, residing at Richmond, in the county of I-Ienrico and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Combined Ironing Board and Ladder, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in combined ironing-boards and step-ladders.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of combined ironing-boards and step-ladders and to provide a simple, strong, and inexpensive one capable of being readily arranged to form either an ironing-board or a step-ladder and adapted to have a broad base for the back section or brace of the step-ladder to prevent the same from tilting laterally.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective 2 5 view of a combined ironing-board and stepladder constructed in accordance with this invention and arranged to form a step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, the parts being arranged to form-a support for the ironingboard and the latter being removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View, the parts being arranged to form an ironing-table, the brace being shown in its inner position in full lines and in its outer position in dotted lines.

Like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings,.

1 designates a step-ladder section designed to be arranged in an inclined position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and supported by a rear section or brace 2, which is hinged at its top to the front step-ladder section, near the upperend thereof, at 3. The front step-ladder section 1, which is composed of side bars and connecting bars or steps, is provided at its upper portion with an inner supplemental sectional, composed of side bars and connecting-steps and pivoted at the upper ends of its side bars at 5 to the sides of the section 1, whereby it is adapted to swing outward, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, to form a supporting-leg when the parts are arranged to form an ironing-table. The steps or connectingpieces of the supplemental section 4 combine with the steps of the section 1 to form a stepladder, and the lower ends of the side bars of the supplemental section 4 are beveled and rest upon the adjacent step of the front section 1 when the parts are arranged to form a step-ladder, and when the supplemental section or leg 4 is'swung outward the upper ends of the sides engage stops 6, consisting of blocks secured to the inner faces of the section 1, near the upper end thereof.

The rear section or brace 2 consists of an oblong frame composed of side bars 7 and connecting cross-bars 8, 9, 10, and 11, located near the top and bottom of the frame and at intermediate points upon the same. The top cross-piece 8 forms a support for a pivoted shelf 12, mounted'between the sides 7 and adapted to be swung downward to a horizontal position, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, and capable of being arranged substantially within the frame when the device is used as an ironing-table.

The front and rear sections of the step-ladder are connected and retained in proper position by a brace 14, connected with one of the steps of the section 1 by a hinge 15, and provided at its other end,which is passed through a slot 16 of the cross-piece 10, with an opening 17, adapted to be engaged by a pivot locking device 18. The locking device, which is curved, as shown, is pivoted at one end to the cross-piece 10, and its other end, which tapers to a point, engages the brace, being passed through the opening 17 thereof from the top, whereby it is retained in such engagement by gravity. 4

In order to increase the stability of the stepladder and prevent it from tilting laterally, a pair of laterally-movable braces 19 are pro vided, as clearly shown in Fig. 1 of the draw ings, and these braces 19 are hinged at their upper ends to the frame. The hinges 20, which connect the braces 19 with the frame, have their lower leaves secured to the outer 10o able braces are connected by links 22 with a centrally-pivoted operating-lever 23, mounted on the bottom cross-bar ill and having its ends connected by pivots 2% with the inner ends of the links 22. The links 22, which pass through slots 26 of the sides of the sectional frame 2, have their outer ends pivoted in slots 27 of the braces 19 by pins 28 or other suitable fastening devices, and the central pivot 29 of the lever has its outer portion threaded for the reception of a nut 30, provided with a handle and adapted to engage and clamp the lever, whereby the laterallymovable braces are retained in their extended and folded positions.

When the parts are arranged to form an ironing-table, the supplemental ladder-sec- 7 tion 4 is swung outward from the main or front laddersection 1, which is arranged at an inclination, the lower ends of the sections 1 and a being placed upon the floor or supportingsurface. The rear frame or section 2 is then elevated to a horizontal position and is supported by the hinged brace 14, which is adapted to engage cleats 31 and 32 of the cross-bars 9 and 11. hen thehinged brace is swunginward to the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 4 of the accompanying d rawings, the space below the oiiter portion of the ironing-board 33 is clear to enable skirts and similar garments to be placed on the said board; but when it extends outward, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. .4, it affords greater strength.

The ironing-board, which is detachably mounted upon the frame or section 2 when the same is in a horizontal position, is provided at points between its ends with transverse cleats 3t and 35 and has pivoted buttons 36 and 37 mounted thereon, and these pivoted buttons, which are located beneath the board, are adapted to engage the cross pieces 8 and 10 of the frame or section 2. By detachably mounting the ironing-board on the frame or sectional body in the manner shown it may be entirely removed from the device when the same is arranged to form a stepdadder.

The combined step-ladder and ironing-table is simple and inexpensivein construction. It possesses great strength and durability, and the parts may be readily arranged to form either a ladder or an ironingtable. \Vhen the parts are arranged to form a step-ladder, the device is firmly supported and held against lateral movement by the hinged braces,which are located at the back of the stepladder. These laterally-movable braces are compactly folded when not in use. They are securely retained in their folded and operative positions, and they can be employed as a clothesrack when the device is arranged to form an ironing-table. The ironing-board is firmly supported when in use, and it may be entirely removed from the device when the same is used as a step-ladder.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing-from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

I'laving thus described the invention, I claim- 1. A device of the class described, compris-- ing front and rear step-ladder sections, the laterally-movable braces hinged to one of the sections and adapted to swing outward and inward, a lever mounted on such section, and links connected with the lever and with the braces, substantially as described.

2. A device of the class described, comprising front and rear step-ladder sections, laterally-movable braces hinged to one of the sections and adapted to swing inward and outward, a lever pivoted between its ends to such section, links connected with the ends of the lever and with the braces, and means for securing the braces in their extended and folded position, substantially as described.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a front ladder-section, a rear frame or section provided at opposite sides with slots, a lever mounted on the rear frame or section and having a pivot threaded at its outer portion, braces hinged to the sides of the frame or section, links passing through the slots-of the latter and connected with the braces and with the lever, and a nut arranged on the threaded portion of the pivot and engaging the lever, substantiallyas described.

4:. A device of the class described comprising a front ladder-section provided-with a supplemental section arranged to swing outward to form a leg, the rear section hinged to the front section and provided with the crossbars 9, 10 and 11, the cross-bars 9 and 11 being provided with shoulders and the crossbar 10 having an opening, the hinged brace 14: mounted on the front ladder-section and arranged to engage the shoulders of the crossbars 9 and 11 and also adapted to extend through the opening of the cross-bar 10, and a detachable ironing-board supported upon the rear section, substantially as described.

5. A device of the class described comprisin g a front ladder-section provided with a supplemental section arranged to swing outward to form a leg, the rear section having the cross-bars 8, 9, 10 and 11, the cross-bars 9 and 11 being provided with shoulders and the cross-bar 10 having an opening, the hinged brace 14 mounted on the front ladder-section and adapted to engage the shoulders of the cross-bars 9 and 11 and also arranged to eX- tend through the opening of the cross-bar 10, and a detachable ironing-board supported upon the rear section and provided with fastening devices engaging the cross-bars 8 and 10, substantially as described.

6. A device of the class described comprisextend and retract both braces simultane- :0 ing front and rear step-ladder sections, foldously, substantially as described. ing braces hinged to one of the sections and In testimony that I claim the foregoing as adapted to extend laterally therefrom and my own I have hereto affixed my signature in fold against the same,links connected with the the presence of two Witnesses.

braces and limiting the outward movement LOUIS NELSON.

thereof, and operating mechanism mounted Witnesses: on the section to which the braces are hinged JAMES WV. GORDON, and connected with the links and adapted to 1 HUGH N. RAGLAND. 

